In an article on the women's movement in Japan, the AsahiShinbun looked at women's progress vis-a-vis four criteria over three periods: 1) the beginning of the Showa Period (1926), 2) the end of the Showa Period (1988), and 3) 2008.

Number of Women in the Japanese Diet1926: none (not permitted at the time to hold national office)
1988: seven women (1.4% of the Diet)
2008: 45 women (9.4% of the Diet)